Steven Craig Bradford (born January 12, 1960) is an American politician who served in the California State Senate from the 35th district from 2016 to 2024, encompassing parts of Los Angeles County. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the California State Assembly representing the 51st and later 62nd districts, and spent over 12 years on the Gardena City Council — becoming the first African American elected to that body. He is currently a candidate for California Insurance Commissioner in the June 2026 primary election.
Bradford grew up in Gardena, California. Before entering public service, he worked seven years at IBM as a marketing representative, twelve years as a public affairs executive at Southern California Edison, and served as Program Director for the LA Conservation Corps and Recycling Director for the City of Compton. He served one year as Mayor Pro Tem of Gardena before being elected to the State Assembly in a 2009 special election following the resignation of Curren Price.
Bradford originally announced a run for Lieutenant Governor in April 2024, but switched his campaign to the Insurance Commissioner race on May 29, 2025. During his time in the legislature he served on the Assembly Insurance Committee and chaired key committees on utilities, energy, and the status of boys and men of color. His term in the State Senate ended in December 2024.
Endorsements
Secretary of State Shirley Weber, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, former Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, Congressman Adam Gray, State Building and Construction Trades of California, Teamsters, ILWU Local 13, and a broad coalition of labor unions. A full list is available on his endorsements page.
Reputation/Scandals/Successes
Core Strengths and Positive Reputation
- Deep Legislative Experience: Bradford brings over 26 years of public service across the Gardena City Council, State Assembly, and State Senate. He served directly on the Assembly Insurance Committee, authoring legislation such as AB 1063, which would have expanded uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage for injured drivers.
- Corporate & Community Background: His private-sector experience at IBM and Southern California Edison — combined with community roles at the LA Conservation Corps and as Recycling Director for Compton — gives him an unusually broad perspective on the intersection of utilities, environment, and working-class communities.
- Labor & Equity Coalition: Bradford has secured strong backing from organized labor and framed the insurance crisis explicitly as a racial and economic equity issue, arguing that low-income communities and communities of color have long been hardest hit by insurance unavailability and discriminatory pricing — well before the recent wildfire-driven crisis.
- Problem-Solver Approach: He emphasizes a collaborative, non-adversarial style, stating he approaches the office “as a problem-solver, not a prosecutor,” with the goal of building a regulatory environment where both insurers and consumers can thrive. He proposes a public-private partnership to share risk with insurers and keep them in the California market.
Criticisms and Vulnerabilities
- Late Entry & Shifting Races: Bradford originally declared for Lieutenant Governor in April 2024 before pivoting to the Insurance Commissioner race in May 2025. Critics have noted the shift raises questions about strategic opportunism rather than a focused, long-standing commitment to insurance policy.
- Lower Name Recognition & Fundraising: Compared to frontrunners Ben Allen and Jane Kim, Bradford has attracted less media attention and publicly reported fundraising, which may limit his reach in a crowded top-two primary field.
- Engagement Gaps: Some local advocacy groups have noted that Bradford did not respond to candidate questionnaires, raising concerns about accessibility and engagement with grassroots organizations during the campaign.
Campaign Contributors
Has raised over $665K. Major contributions have come from unions and business, the largest being RJ Reynolds Tobacco. Full contributor details are available at Transparency USA.
